Green Printing

Why is green printing important?

The production of paper as well as the printing of publications both use large amounts of natural resources, such as wood, water, and energy, as well as potentially hazardous materials. Consider the environmental impacts associated solely with the manufacturing of 1 ton of virgin, uncoated paper (e.g., copy paper): 4 tons of wood; 30 million BTUs of energy; 5,882 pounds of CO2E of greenhouse gases; 22,219 gallons of water; and 1,909 pounds of solid waste.

The printing process itself also involves numerous inks, solvents, acids, lacquers, dyes, driers, varnishes, shellacs, and many other solutions, that can be hazardous to both humans and the environment. Chlorine bleaching of paper can release chemicals and pollutants into the water. Bindings, adhesives, foils, and other items used in printed items can also make recycling of publications difficult.

Fortunately, many green printing options are now available to the Vanderbilt community through the VU Printing Services and Creative Services. These include post consumer waste recycled-content papers, papers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), vegetable-based inks, papers processed without chlorine, and products made with renewable energy. This document has been created by VU’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office, Printing Services, and Creative Services to inform customers of opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of their printing processes.

Green Printing Terms

Recycled Content Papers

Paper can be made from virgin wood, pre-consumer waste meaning waste from paper mills and manufacturing plants, or post-consumer waste meaning paper that has been collected during recycling programs or paper waste from printing processes, etc. The more post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled content there is in a sheet of paper, the less fresh pulp from trees, energy, and water was used to manufacture paper saving natural resources. Additionally, using post-consumer waste as feedstock for paper production results in fewer greenhouse gases and solid waste generated during the paper manufacturing process. Making paper pulp from recycled fibers also requires less bleaching, a process with detrimental environmental effects, than producing virgin paper. While 100% PCW recycled content is the most environmentally-friendly, 30% PCW recycled content is typically available at a price and quality identical to paper with no recycled content. Moreover, using paper with PCW content supports the paper recycling industry, lowering the price consumers pay for recycled content paper while improving the payments to Vanderbilt for the paper recycled from our campus.

Consider the environmental impacts associated with producing 10 tons of the following types of uncoated paper (e.g., copy paper):

0% recycled content

30% recycled content

50% recycled content

100% recycled content

Wood Use

37 tons ≈ 259 trees

26 tons ≈ 181 trees

18 tons ≈ 130 trees

0 tons ≈ 0 trees

Net Energy

299 million BTUs (87,628 kWh) ≈ 3.3 homes/year

274 million BTUs (80,301 kWh) ≈ 3.0 homes/year

258 million BTUs (75,612 kWh) ≈ 2.8 homes/year

217 million BTUs (63,596 kWh) ≈ 2.4 homes/year

Greenhouse Gases

58,821 lbs CO2E ≈ 5.3 cars/year

51,442 lbs CO2E ≈ 4.7 cars/year

46,522 lbs CO2E ≈ 4.2 cars/year

34,223 lbs CO2E ≈ 3.1 cars/year

Wastewater

222,189 gallons ≈ 0.34 swimming pools

186,647 gallons ≈ 0.28 swimming pools

162,953 gallons ≈ 0.25 swimming pools

103,717 gallons ≈ 0.16 swimming pools

Solid Waste

19,087 lbs ≈ 0.68 full garbage trucks

16,929 lbs ≈ 0.60 full garbage trucks

15,491 lbs ≈ 0.55 full garbage trucks

11,894 lbs ≈ 0.42 full garbage trucks

The production of equivalent quantities of other types of papers, such as coated freesheet (e.g., high-end catalog) or coated groundwood (e.g., catalog or magazine), has similar environmental savings when using increasing amounts of recycled content.

FSC-Certified Papers and Printers

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification system provides internationally-recognized standards in responsible forestry. In order to obtain certification, a product’s entire supply chain must meet the FSC-certification process which serves the best interests of people, wildlife, and the environment. FSC-certification is globally recognized as being the most credible and stringent system for ensuring well-managed forests. If paper must be purchased that does not contain 100% recycled content, then the non-recycled wood content, or virgin wood, should be obtained from an FSC-certified forest and meet all FSC-requirements. Therefore, the consumer can request the use of FSC-certified papers although the FSC is very strict about who may print their logo on packaging. In order to use any FSC trademarks, including the FSC logo, initials “FSC”, or phrase “Forest Stewardship Council” on a printed piece, the printer must have chain-of-custody certification. Without this certification, no claims can be printed regarding the FSC-certified content of the paper, although the consumer can still request the use of FSC-certified paper by VU Printing Services.

Processed Chlorine Free

Chlorine-free, recycled-content paper is preferable to paper bleached with chlorine because of chlorine’s harmful effects on the environment, particularly aquatic environments and water systems. Currently, chlorine and its derivatives are the most common bleaching agents used by the paper industry. Ask for recycled content paper marked “processed chlorine free” (PCF), indicating that no chlorine or chlorine compounds were used during the manufacturing process.

Note: Processed chlorine free is reserved for recycled content paper. Totally chlorine free is reserved for virgin fiber papers, indicating that no chlorine or chlorine compounds were used during the manufacturing process, as verified through chain of custody certification.

Paper Made with Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is energy generated from resources which are replenished naturally, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, biomass and geothermal heat. In order for an entity to claim that their paper is produced with renewable energy, they must either purchase energy generated by a renewable resource such as TVA’s Green Power Switch or they must generate the energy at their plant using on-site solar, wind, tide, biomass or geothermal heat sources. Paper manufacturers, such as Mohawk, will designate papers made from their mills that use renewable energy sources, and consumers can designate their printed product as “paper made with renewable energy”.

Printed with Environmentally-Friendly Inks

Printing with environmentally-friendly inks, including vegetable-based inks such as soy or flax ink, reduces the need to use petroleum based inks that are harmful to individuals and the environment and are difficult to recycle. The consumer can request the use of environmentally-friendly inks from VU Printing Services or an outside printing vendor and can designate their printed product as being printed with environmentally-friendly inks.

Hierarchy of Green Printing Choices

Not printed at all – distributed electronically

Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper with 100% post-consumer waste recycled content which is processed chlorine-free and made with 100% renewable energy

Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper that is FSC-certified with 50% post-consumer waste recycled content and is processed chlorine-free and made with renewable energy

Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper that is FSC-certified with 30% post-consumer waste recycled content and is processed chlorine-free and made with renewable energy

Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper that is FSC-certified with 10% post-consumer waste recycled content and was made with renewable energy

Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper with 10% post-consumer waste recycled content OR Printed with environmentally-friendly inks on paper that is FSC-certified

Printed on paper that contains 10% post-consumer waste recycled content OR Printed on paper that is FSC-certified

Sources:

Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator. More information.